Genera incertae sedis in Characidae
Abstract and Figures
Characid genera listed below as Incertae Sedis constitute a largely heterogeneous assemblage of small to large-sized fishes. Most of these genera had been included in the subfamily Tetragonopterinae (see Géry, 1977). However, considering the lack of evidence that this subfamily constitutes a monophyletic assemblage (e.g., Weitzman & Fink, 1983; Weitzman & Malabarba, 1998), this classification was not adopted here. Instead, we preferred to emphasize the fact that interrelation-ships among the Characidae are poorly known, and only consider subfamilies for which some evidence of monophyly is available.
Eighty eight genera are listed as Incertae Sedis here, including 620 species. Among these, 64% or 399 species, are assigned to the speciose, taxonomically poorly known, and possibly not monophyletic genera of Characidae, Hyphessobrycon (97 species), Astyanax (86 species), Moenkhausia (58 species), Bryconamericus (51 species), and Hemigrammus (43 species), or to Creagrutus (64 species), a group recently revised and for which the taxonomic situation is now clear (Vari & Harold, 2001). In addition, more than 53% or 47 genera included as Incertae Sedis are monotypic and 26% or 23 genera contain only two or three species.
These mostly small fishes are abundant in rivers and other aquatic habitats throughout the Neotropical region and many have use as food or pets in the aquarium trade. Also is listed Salminus, the large dourados from the La Plata, São Francisco, Magdalena, and the periphery of Amazon/Orinoco basins. These predatory, ichthyophagous fishes are one of the main targets of the professional and amateur fishing in South America and are among the largest Neotropical characiforms. The bizarre lepidophagous Roeboexodon geryi, the herring-like Triportheus, and the neon tetras of the genus Paracheirodon are also listed below as Incertae Sedis genera within the Characidae.
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... A literature survey reveals that, among the almost 100 species allocated in Moenkhausia, only nine are reported to attain a size greater than 90 mm SL. These include M. chrysargyrea (Günther, 1864) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. comma Eigenmann 1908[94 mm SL (Lima et al., 2013], M. dichroura (Kner 1858) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. latissima Eigenmann 1908[92 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003], M. moisae [97 mm SL (Géry et al., 1995)], M. oligolepis (Günther 1864) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. pankilopteryx Bertaco & Lucinda 2006[96.8 mm SL (Bertaco & Lucinda, 2006], M. pirauba [99.2 mm SL (Zanata et al., 2010)], and M. surinamensis Géry 1965[100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003]. ...
... A literature survey reveals that, among the almost 100 species allocated in Moenkhausia, only nine are reported to attain a size greater than 90 mm SL. These include M. chrysargyrea (Günther, 1864) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. comma Eigenmann 1908[94 mm SL (Lima et al., 2013], M. dichroura (Kner 1858) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. latissima Eigenmann 1908[92 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003], M. moisae [97 mm SL (Géry et al., 1995)], M. oligolepis (Günther 1864) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. pankilopteryx Bertaco & Lucinda 2006[96.8 mm SL (Bertaco & Lucinda, 2006], M. pirauba [99.2 mm SL (Zanata et al., 2010)], and M. surinamensis Géry 1965[100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003]. ...
... A literature survey reveals that, among the almost 100 species allocated in Moenkhausia, only nine are reported to attain a size greater than 90 mm SL. These include M. chrysargyrea (Günther, 1864) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. comma Eigenmann 1908[94 mm SL (Lima et al., 2013], M. dichroura (Kner 1858) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. latissima Eigenmann 1908[92 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003], M. moisae [97 mm SL (Géry et al., 1995)], M. oligolepis (Günther 1864) [100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003)], M. pankilopteryx Bertaco & Lucinda 2006[96.8 mm SL (Bertaco & Lucinda, 2006], M. pirauba [99.2 mm SL (Zanata et al., 2010)], and M. surinamensis Géry 1965[100 mm SL (Lima et al., 2003]. ...
A new species of Moenkhausia is described from the rio Braço Norte, a tributary of Rio Teles Pires draining the Serra do
Cachimbo, rio Tapajós basin, Pará, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed from all congeners, except M. moisae and M.
pirauba, by having a high number of scales in the longitudinal series (43–46 vs. 23–41 in other Moenkhausia species). It
can also be distinguished from the aforementioned species based on the combination of the following characters: a single
humeral blotch, 21–25 branched anal-fin rays, and a round and symmetrical caudal blotch not continuous anteriorly with
the dark midlateral stripe. The new tetra herein described represents an additional, possibly endemic, taxon from the
headwaters draining from Serra do Cachimbo, in the Brazilian Shield.
... The fish species chosen as the experimental model for this work is Astyanax altiparanae. This species is native to the Neotropical region, belonging to the order Characiformes, and is found in South America (Lima et al., 2003). The genus Astyanax is the most diverse of the Characidae family in the Neotropical region, with a hundred species abundantly distributed in Brazilian hydrographic basins (Lima et al., 2003;Ornelas-García et al., 2008;Prado et al., 2011). ...
... This species is native to the Neotropical region, belonging to the order Characiformes, and is found in South America (Lima et al., 2003). The genus Astyanax is the most diverse of the Characidae family in the Neotropical region, with a hundred species abundantly distributed in Brazilian hydrographic basins (Lima et al., 2003;Ornelas-García et al., 2008;Prado et al., 2011). In addition, this genus has been shown to be Water Air Soil Pollut (2023) 234:307 Page 3 of 9 307 ...
Ni and Cd are widely used together in the manufacture of cells and batteries. The incorrect disposal of these products can result in environmental contamination, posing risks to the organisms exposed to these contaminants. However, the effects of the mixture of Ni and Cd in freshwater fishes are still unclear in the current literature, especially in relation to biomarkers of oxidative stress. Thus, the objective of the current work was to compare the sublethal effects caused by the mixture of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) with the effects of these metals individually, in the fish Astyanax altiparanae. The animals were exposed for 72 h to 20 μg L⁻¹ of Cd, 1.5 mg L⁻¹ of Ni, or a mixture of these two metals at the concentrations mentioned. After exposure, tissue samples were collected to evaluate hematological and plasma parameters, biomarkers of oxidative stress in the gills, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in brain and muscle. Exposure to the mixture caused alterations that were not observed in the groups exposed to the metals individually, such as increased activity of catalase and glutathione-S-transferase, and a reduction in AChE activity in the brain. Thus, we concluded that exposure to the mixture of Cd and Ni is more harmful to A. altiparanae than exposure to these metals separately.
... Astyanax is one of the largest genera in the family Characidae, and Astyanax species are widely distributed throughout the Americas (Gery 1977). This group comprises fish species with similar shapes and has been recently considered Incertae sedis because the group does not exhibit consistent evidence of monophyly (Lima et al. 2003). Several cytogenetic studies have been conducted on fishes from the Astyanax group (Maistro et al. 2000;Moreira-Filho et al. 2001;Torres-Mariano and Morelli 2006;Ferreira Neto et al. 2009;Kavalco et al. 2011;among others). ...
... Morphometric data for lectotype ( Figure 1a) and paralectotypes are presented in Table 1 It is worth mentioning that the lectotype was not cited in CLOFFSCA (Lima et al., 2003) or Argentinean freshwater fish lists (L opez et al., 2003;Mirande & Koerber, 2015) published after the redescription by Braga (2000). Moreover, the lectotype designation of B. rubropictus (Braga, 2000) is not updated in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (Fricke et al., 2023). ...
The lectotype specimen of Bryconamericus rubropictus (Berg) and its designation have remained imprecisely documented since its publication. The lack of a photograph or an unambiguous illustration, correct size, inaccurate labelling, and proper specimen separation has led to an uncertainty about the identity and nomenclatural status of the lectotype. We recovered and provided detailed morphological data on the specimen that must be recognised as the lectotype. This contribution brings stability and clarity on the nomenclatural status of the species and its type material.
... Astyanax spp., like many Ostariophysi species, have alarm reaction behavior, thus hampering their capture (Pfeiffer 1977, Duboc 2007. One plausible explanation for this finding is that lambaris tend to be very common and abundant in Neotropical rivers (Lima et al. 2003, Pasa et al. 2019, besides having the habit of forming shoals; therefore, their high consumption by the otters could be attributed to their abundance in the area. However, Rheingantz et al. (2012) found that species of Characidae, including those that were abundant but highly agile, were rarely consumed by otters in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro. ...
Lontra longicaudis Olfers, 1818 is a semi-aquatic carnivore widely distributed in the Neotropical region. Understanding their diet contributes to an indirect understanding of their ecology and the composition of the local fauna. To this end, we analyzed 109 fecal samples and identified 238 morphological structures; these samples were collected between May 2006 and September 2007 from the Santa Lúcia Biological Station (SLBS) in southeastern Brazil. The area is intersected by the Timbuí River, which arrives at the site after crossing the urban perimeter of the city of Santa Teresa in the state of Espírito Santo. We found a predominance of fish in the otters’ diets (82%), mainly cichlids (50%), which are fish with sedentary habits and low mobility levels. The crustacean Trichodactylus fluviatilis Latreille, 1828 was the third most consumed taxon; this occurred mainly during the rainy season, corresponding to the crustacean’s reproductive period, when it is more vulnerable to predation. Otters exhibited a seasonal variation in their prey selectivity. Furthermore, they displayed opportunistic foraging behavior, as the most preyed fish were those with both low mobility and a high frequency in the environment, followed by fish with high mobility and high frequency, and then those with low mobility and low frequency. We concluded that the feeding habits of the otters in the SLBS are in line with the optimal foraging theory since prey selection was optimized through the balance between net energy gained and the energy costs of foraging.
KEY WORDS:
Anthropogenic pressure; ecology; opportunism; prey; trophic relationship
... Throughout the study, 15 and 23 species were sampled in the inside and outside areas, respectively, with Coptodon rendalli (Boulenger, 1897) being a recent invasive species (see Frota et al., 2019). Among the sampled species, the endemic that occurred both inside and outside were selected: Deuterodon iguape Eigenmann, 1907, Geophagus iporangensis Haseman, 1911and Isbrueckerichthys duseni (Miranda Ribeiro, 1907, they stand out among the most frequent for the study area (Lima et al., 2003). From each sampled individual, standard length (Ls) and total weight (Wt) were obtained. ...
This is paper we analyze the diet and body condition factor (Mi) of three endemic species inside and outside an environmental protection area, to compare the effectiveness of the protection area in providing a greater spectrum of food items and greater environmental well-being to ichthyofauna. The study area comprised streams of the Ribeira do Iguape River basin, Campos Gerais National Park (CGNP), Paraná state and its surroundings. Eleven streams were sampled inside and outside, using electric fishing. A Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance to investigate the composition of food items and a Permutational Analysis of Multivariate Dispersions was used to investigate the variability between food items. The Scaled Mass Index (Mi) of the body condition was used to determine the relative condition factor of each individual of each species. Regarding the diet, there were no significant differences between inside and outside in the composition and variability of food items, this similarity may be associated with existing environmental degradation inside. However, the Mi was significant, and only one species presented greater well-being inside, because inside streams receive greater allochthonous intake of riparian vegetation, but, when it comes to the two species that perform the link of the aquatic food web with the terrestrial, the opposite occurred. These results indicate that the studied fragment, under anthropic pressures, is currently unable to conserve its biodiversity. The inside has no Management Plan, the manager must elaborate and implement it as a first step so that the situation can be reverted and the conservation effectiveness ensured in this highly threatened area, characterized by being one of the most important remnants of the Atlantic Forest, having relevant ecosystem services from a rare humid forest of Araucaria.
KEYWORDS.
Freshwater endemism; conservation of species; mixed ombrophilous forest; national park; food variability
... In the Amazon region, Astyanax bimaculatus is one of the most representative species of the genus, belonging to the A. bimaculatus complex, which comprises species that occur in different hydrographic basins of South America. Currently, this species refers to organisms that are distributed from Panama to basins along the Amazon region, occurring in both freshwater and estuarine environments (Buckup, 2003). ...
Although Astyanax bimaculatus is the most representative species of the genus in the Amazon region, there are no cytogenetic studies of A. bimaculatus species in Amazon region. Thus, we aimed to analyse the chromosome complements of specimens from this area using classic and molecular cytogenetic approaches. The results revealed the existence of a distinct cytotype and this is the first report of the occurrence of a B microchromosome in the species. Overall, these data indicate that the karyotypic evolution of this species is complex, involving the occurrence of chromosomal rearrangements.
A revision of the genus Salminus, excluding the large-sized species S. brasiliensis and S. franciscanus, is presented. In addition to the two large-sized species, four additional Salminus species are recognized: Salminus affinis Steindachner, from the río Magdalena, río Sinú, and río Rancheria basins, Colombia; Salminus hilarii Valenciennes, from the rio Paraná, rio São Francisco, and rio Jaguaribe basins, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay; Salminus iquitensis (Nakashima), new combination, from the western portion of the Amazon basin, rio Branco, and río Orinoco basins, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela; and Salminus santosi new species, from the rio Tocantins basin, Brazil. These four species are described/redescribed and illustrated, and a key to the species belonging to the genus is presented. Comments on the diagnosis of the genus Salminus and its biogeography taking into account recent phylogenetic hypotheses published for the genus, are presented.
Resumo É descrito um novo peixe caracídeo (Pisces, Cypriniformes, Characoidei) pertencente a um novo gênero Inpaichthys kerri n.g.n sp., coletado perto da Estação do Núcleo Aripuanã do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), ao Norte de Mato Grosso, Brasil. A espécie nova possui linha lateral incompleta e nadadeira caudal nua. Os dentes são tricuspidados, em duas séries muito irregulares no pré-maxilar; a série interna geralmente composta de somente dois dentes medianos em cada lado. A maxila é dentada em metade de sua borda, geralmente com 7 a 8 dentes tricuspidados e cônicos. Esta dentição, em combinação com outras características morfológicas descritas no trabalho, difere o Inpaichthys dos outros gêneros da subfamília Tetragonopterinae.
French zoologist and naturalist Georges Cuvier (1769–1832), one of the most eminent scientific figures of the early nineteenth century, is best known for laying the foundations of comparative anatomy and palaeontology. He spent his lifetime studying the anatomy of animals, and broke new ground by comparing living and fossil specimens - many he uncovered himself. However, Cuvier always opposed evolutionary theories and was during his day the foremost proponent of catastrophism, a doctrine contending that geological changes were caused by sudden cataclysms. He received universal acclaim when he published his monumental Le règne animal, which made significant advances over the Linnaean taxonomic system of classification and arranged animals into four large groups. The sixteen-volume English translation and expansion, The Animal Kingdom (1827–35), is also reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection. First published in 1817, Volume 3 of the original version covers molluscs, arachnids and insects.